Instructional &
Informational Posts
rut. noun /ret/: a habit or pattern of behavior that has become dull and unproductive but is hard to change.
In our column, Rut Buster, we challenge writer Valerie McTavish to climb out of the all-too-common health ruts we find ourselves in from time to time. From the running rut to the gym rut, and even the couch potato rut, join us as Valerie tosses aside the usual and takes on a variety of get-your-sweat-on activities.
After my first experience on a paddleboard earlier this summer, I thought it was about time to do what’s meant to be done on a paddleboard – stand up and paddle!
I picked a hot day so that if (or rather when) I fell in, it would be a refreshing and welcome accident. I reserved my board at a lakeside kiosk and half heartedly listened to the kid with the clipboard tell me how it’s done.
I don’t know if it was my limited SUP Yoga experience that made me so cocky, but for whatever reason, I was. I walked the board out until calf deep, knelt the way he showed me and hopped up to my feet.
I centred myself and straddled the small hand hold slot in the middle of the board and just started paddling. With the helpful teen in my wake, I stopped to reflect. My self-assuredness may have been ill found, but I was doing alright.
As I left the shelter of the little bay, I encountered the waves and wakes of a well-trafficked lake. Instinct told me to lower my centre of gravity by bending my knees and counter the wave action with fluidity. It worked. Where did this come from?
I understood why stand up paddle boarding is considered one of the best workouts within just a few minutes. My core was twitching and straining to keep me steady, my legs were flexed and holding strong, and my arms were doing all the resistance work.
But the unexpected workout was for my feet. They were aching within a few minutes of launching. I don’t know if they were doing overtime to stabilize me but up until that point, I had no idea feet muscles could feel so strained.
Despite the wicked pedi-workout I dug a little deeper with my strokes to see if I couldn’t get a non sun-produced sweat going. As the paddle powered in, my balance shifted and a prickly sensation rippled through my body. I was certain I was going in.
Forget the preconceived notion that a fall into the lake on a hot day would be lovely – in that moment when you’re about to go, your body fights it tooth and nail. Or in my case, nails – I’m pretty sure my claw-like toe clenching was what kept me on board.
The more I paddled, the better I got and the stronger I felt. After an hour I’d gotten a decent workout but knew I’d have to do it a few more times if I wanted it to be more “fitness” versus fun on the water.
If I do manage to get to that point, I’ll send a picture of my six pack feet.
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Valerie needs your help. Email your stories about how you busted out of a rut (fitness or otherwise). Share your successes or suggest an activity for her to try. Stay motivated together.
